Andrew Wood

Andrew Patrick Wood (January 8, 1966 – March 19, 1990) was an American musician who was the lead singer and lyricist for the alternative rock bands Malfunkshun and Mother Love Bone.

Wood was born on January 8, 1966, in Columbus, Mississippi, to David C. Wood and Toni Wood; he grew up in Bainbridge Island, Washington.

He was the youngest of three children; he had two older brothers, Kevin and Brian.

Andrew and his brothers were exposed to various types of music by their parents, who also supported their children when they were learning how to play instruments.

Andrew became a fan of acts including Elton John, Queen, Aerosmith, and Kiss.

He formed Malfunkshun in 1980 with his older brother Kevin Wood on guitar and Regan Hagar on drums.

The band used alter ego personas onstage; Wood performed as Landrew the Love Child.

Though the band only released two songs before going on an extended hiatus, "With Yo' Heart (Not Yo' Hands)" and "Stars-n-You", on the Deep Six compilation album, they are often cited as being among the originators of the Seattle grunge movement.

In 1980, at the age of 14, Andrew Wood formed Malfunkshun with his brother Kevin, recording their first demo tape in April 1980.

Drummer Regan Hagar joined the band soon afterwards, playing shows in Seattle.

Each member adopted onstage alter egos, with Andrew becoming Landrew the Love Child, Kevin performing as Kevinstein, and Hagar becoming Thundarr.

Unlike most grunge groups in Seattle, Malfunkshun were influenced by glam rock with Wood described as "a hippie, glammed-out rock and roll god, equal parts Marc Bolan and Jim Morrison," with his look and vocal style influenced by frontmen such as Freddie Mercury, Paul Stanley, and Marc Bolan.

Andrew Wood developed a drug habit at a young age, having smoked marijuana and cigarettes when he was 11 or 12.

While in Malfunkshun, Wood started using drugs, entering rehab in 1985.

By 1985, he began to rely heavily on drugs to cope with having a "rock star" persona; he entered rehab later that year.

Malfunkshun recorded a number of demos in 1986, two of which, "With Yo' Heart (Not Yo' Hands)" and "Stars-n-You," were included on the "legendary" Deep Six compilation album released by C/Z Records the same year.

The band played shows in Seattle, opening for Soundgarden, The U-Men, and Skin Yard.

In 1988, Wood began jamming with Green River members Stone Gossard and Jeff Ament while Malfunkshun was on hiatus.

They began writing original material and formed Mother Love Bone the same year, adding guitarist Bruce Fairweather (also a former member of Green River) and drummer Greg Gilmore to the lineup.

However, in 1988, Malfunkshun disbanded.

Although the band never released an album during Wood's lifetime and were turned down by Sub Pop for "not [being] grunge enough," Malfunkshun, along with Green River, are often cited as an originator of the grunge movement.

Wood and Hagar started playing with Stone Gossard and Jeff Ament of Green River, which disbanded in 1988, on occasion performing as the cover band Lords of the Wasteland.

Former Green River guitarist Bruce Fairweather joined the lineup; former 10 Minute Warning and Skin Yard drummer Greg Gilmore replaced Hagar, forming Mother Love Bone in the same year.

In 1989, the band signed a deal with PolyGram issuing an EP, Shine, before going on tour, supporting The Dogs D'Amour.

Struggling with drug dependence, Wood checked himself into rehab in 1989, hoping to get clean for the release of Mother Love Bone's debut album.

The band soon signed a deal with PolyGram, and, through their own subsidiary label Stardog released a six-song EP, Shine, in 1989.

John Book, of Allmusic, stated that the EP "contributed to the buzz about the Seattle music scene."

The rest of the year the band toured, including shows supporting The Dogs D'Amour; they also recorded their debut album.

With high expectations for the album, Wood checked himself into rehab being addicted to heroin; he hoped to get clean before the album was released and staying there for the remainder of the year.

Near the end of the year, the band recorded their debut album, Apple, which was scheduled for release in 1990.

He died in Seattle on March 19, 1990, at the age of 24, after being found in a comatose state by his girlfriend following a heroin overdose.

In 1990, the band continued to play shows in Seattle, waiting for the release of their album, Apple.

Wood died weeks before the release of the record.

On March 16, 1990, Wood was found in a comatose state by his girlfriend, having overdosed on heroin.

He was taken to Harborview Hospital and placed on life support.

On March 19, physicians suggested that Wood be removed from life support and he was pronounced dead at 3:15 pm that day.

The official cause of death recorded on Wood's death certificate is hypoxic encephalopathy.

Apple was released posthumously later in the year, receiving positive reviews.

David Browne of The New York Times wrote that "Apple may be one of the first great hard-rock records of the 90s" and that "Andrew Wood could have been the first of the big-league Seattle rock stars."

Shortly after Wood's death, former roommate and friend Chris Cornell of Soundgarden wrote two songs, "Reach Down" and "Say Hello 2 Heaven", as a tribute to him.